Panthers QB Cam Newton has not missed a game since entering the NFL in 2011. / Dale Zanine, USA TODAY Sports

by Lindsay H. Jones, USA TODAY Sports

by Lindsay H. Jones, USA TODAY Sports

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton will undergo surgery on his ankle Wednesday, the team announced Tuesday afternoon.

The team said the surgery will address lingering soreness that Newton has experienced since the Panthers' playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers in January.

"We wanted to see if rest would calm it down, but it is still bothering him and the decision was made to address it," head athletic trainer Ryan Vermillion said in a statement.

The team said Newton is expected to be fully recovered from the surgery in four months, a timeline that would have Newton ready for the start of training camp in late July. The surgery will be performed by team physician Robert Anderson, a renowned foot and ankle specialist who has treated many NFL players, in Charlotte.

With Newton sidelined throughout the spring, veteran backup Derek Anderson will run the first-team offense when offseason workouts begin next month. The Panthers' other quarterback is Matt Blanchard, who spent much of last season on the practice squad.